Blood and Honor (Fae Rising Book 1) by Miranda Lyn

Author:Miranda Lyn [Lyn, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Temir

“Oh, I’ve seen this beauty before.” Oleo held up the small pink flower we’d collected from the desert. “It was worn by another beauty. I was a young lad just starting to work for my father’s business and he had to travel for work. I had planned to stay behind and run the shop for him, but he insisted I come along and learn how to sell to the southerners.” He leaned against the massive tree trunk we sat under having a small lunch in the middle of our workday. “A lovely female was wearing this flower in her hair. I remember watching her from across the market as she filled a bucket of water in the fountain and sang the most captivating song about the sea.” He twirled the flower between his aged fingers.

I didn’t dare interrupt his memories, especially the happy ones. His recollections were the basis of my childhood bedtime stories. They were the escape from deep-rooted childhood fears and the comfort of lonely, wild boys.

“She took a liking to me, too, and I went down to visit her from time to time. She always sang that song to me and told me pretty stories of her dreams for her own future.” His eyes were distant for a long time. Finally, he cleared his throat and sat the flower into the sample box.

“What happened to her?”

“I’d gone south for another visit and filled the desert with wildflowers in hopes of capturing her heart. It was the grandest gesture a poor merchant could ever make. But I had no idea Autus’s grandfather was traveling at that time. Naturally, when he discovered wildflowers in a field of sand and scorching sun, he hunted me down and captured me, ripping me away from my beloved and my father.”

“You’ve never told me that story before, Oleo.”

“Yes, well, I hate the sad ending.”

An hour of sorrow passed in the blink of an eye as we both imagined what his life would have been like without the unfortunate capture. It doesn’t matter if you’re high fae if you’re also magical.

I cleared my throat. “I believe we will find our solution in the hornwort,” I finally said.

“How so?” he asked.

“The seaweed has no vascular tissue. It’s basically algae. If I focus on the way it releases gases, the hornwort would be the most similar. It’s sub-tropical, but also has no vascular tissue.”

“Ah. What’s your extraction rate?” he inquired, letting the emotions melt into the air like vapors.

“It’s slow and steady. I’ll have to find some time to go back to collect more samples if this is it. The stems are small and I’m getting only a few drops per sample. Gaea has been away for over a week, so I haven’t been able to go back for more.” I stretched my aching muscles from the hours of work.

“Sounds like you may be on the right track all the same.” He took a long drink of wine. “Are you nervous about your meeting with the king today?”

“I am.

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